Can I Use Bluetooth Headphones with In-Flight Entertainment?

Not every airline is equipped with Bluetooth connectivity for in-flight entertainment, but some are. Many still use a standard headphone jack, which you can use with a Bluetooth transmitter to listen to Bluetooth headphones. 

This post will examine whether you can use Bluetooth headphones for in-flight entertainment. I’ll provide some information on how you can make this work and highlight why you might want to use standard headphones. 

Let’s get to it. 

Key Takeaways

• You can use Bluetooth headphones with in-flight entertainment on airlines that have this feature built into their entertainment systems. 
• Not all airlines offer Bluetooth connectivity; many still use the standard wired headphone jack to listen to entertainment. 
• You can use a Bluetooth transmitter plugged into the regular headphone jack as a workaround, but you should always check if the airline you are flying with allows this. 

Can You Use Bluetooth Headphones with In-Flight Entertainment? 

Using Bluetooth headphones with in-flight entertainment is hit or miss, depending on which airline you are flying with. While this technology is common and convenient, not all airlines have updated their systems to allow these connections. 

If the airline you are on has Bluetooth connections, you can pair your headphones through the screen at your seat easily. The process for doing this is simple and similar to connecting headphones to other types of devices. 

Many airlines still use wired headphones to listen to in-flight movies and shows. And a lot of them pass out free headphones when you take your seat. So even if you don’t have wired headphones, you can still take advantage of in-flight entertainment. 

There is a workaround to get your Bluetooth headphones to work with an in-flight entertainment system. You’ll need a Bluetooth transmitter to make this happen, and all you need to do is plug the transmitter into the headphone slot for the entertainment system. 

Then you can pair the headphones to the transmitter, and everything should work normally from there. Keep in mind that some airlines have rules for when you can use Bluetooth technology because it can interfere with plane communications. 

If you are trying to use a Bluetooth transmitter, be sure to ask a flight attendant or customer service before the flight to ensure this is allowed. 

Can You Use Bluetooth Headphones with In-Flight Entertainment on United? 

United is one of the airlines that makes it easy to use Bluetooth headphones with in-flight entertainment. It was one of the first airlines to make this feature available to the public, and it’s available on most planes and flights. 

You can connect to the in-flight entertainment with your own Bluetooth headphones once the feature is enabled after takeoff. The connection process is simple and can be done using the on-screen instructions. 

Can You Use Bluetooth Headphones with In-Flight Entertainment on Delta? 

Delta is another airline that allows you to connect Bluetooth headphones with in-flight entertainment. But it’s not available on all airplanes or in all classes of Delta. It’s mostly just in first-class, where they have upgraded the entertainment systems. 

So if you are on Delta as a regular passenger, you still cannot use Bluetooth headphones even though those up in first-class can. And even if you are in first-class, it still depends on which airplane you are flying on. 

Can You Use Bluetooth Headphones with In-Flight Entertainment on American Airlines? 

You can use Bluetooth headphones for in-flight entertainment on American Airlines. This is one of the first airlines to upgrade its entire entertainment system to give passengers a better experience. And Bluetooth connectivity is one of these upgrades. 

The cool thing about what American is doing is that it’s not just reserved for first-class passengers, and the entire plane is getting upgraded to include Bluetooth. This is alongside larger displays on all the seats as well. 

Bluetooth Airplane Adapter

If you want to use your Bluetooth headphones on an airplane, but the airline doesn’t have Bluetooth capabilities, you can still make it happen. All you need to do is get a Bluetooth transmitter that plugs into the regular headphone input. 

Some people refer to this as a Bluetooth airplane adapter, but it’s technically just called a transmitter. And it will work in other situations than just on a plane. 

FAQs

Here are a few quick answers to some of the most frequently asked questions related to if you can use Bluetooth headphones with in-flight entertainment. 

Can you use Bluetooth headphones to watch movies on a plane? 

If the airline you are flying on offers Bluetooth connectivity, you can use your Bluetooth headphones to watch movies. You just need to connect the headphones to the entertainment system, and this process can vary from plane to plane. 

Can you connect AirPods to flight entertainment? 

As long as the airline you are flying with offers Bluetooth connectivity, you can connect AirPods to in-flight entertainment. Not all airlines offer this, but you can still use AirPods if you get a Bluetooth transmitter and plug it into the regular headphone socket. 

Does Bluetooth work in Airplane Mode on iPhone? 

When you enable Airplane Mode on your iPhone, this automatically disables the WiFi and Bluetooth connections. But you can still use Bluetooth in Airplane Mode by turning it back on. Just make sure the airline allows Bluetooth use when doing so.

Final Thoughts

Using Bluetooth headphones on a plane to enjoy in-flight entertainment is simple as long as the plane is equipped to allow the use of this function. But you can use wired headphones or a Bluetooth transmitter if the aircraft doesn’t have the feature. 

Have you ever used Bluetooth headphones with in-flight entertainment? What airline were you on? Let me know in the comments below.